How to Buy Antiques as Gifts

Jul 1, 2010

Purchasing a present for many people is easy-especially if they make a list or tell you what they want. Others, however, can be much harder.

For those special, hard to give people, why don’t you concentrate on a loved person’s hobby, collection or general interest and purchase an antique or collectible item as a gift? For example, a classic scarf for a fashionista, or an antique camera for that photography aficionado friend of yours.  Sound appealing? Here’s the best way to select the best antique gift for that special person on your list.

Know their taste and elegance

Before venturing out, know what items you are searching for. In order to be able to do this you need to do a little bit of research and observe your friend closely and his/her surroundings. “Be really obvious about what their interests are,” recommends Molly Venture of Venture Antiques in Florida.

For antique collectors: Understand what they are missing and just how particular they’re about the condition of a particular item.

For “decorators”:  Know their taste in décor-Some key questions would be, is the dining area dark forest and yellows or light pine and sage? What do they already have and what do they need or want? That should lead you in the right direction

For enthusiasts: Be led by their hobbies. If someone loves Daschunds, give them an antique figurine, something they are able to start collecting, or something which builds on the things they already love.

For the sentimentalist: Revive the past. For example, you purchase an Asian antique pair of teacups for your sister because  your mother used to have them and serve tea in them and it will bring memories of your mom to your sister and make her happy.

Still unsure of what to get? Stay with antique items you would use yourself or perhaps something that you can use in a unique different way. Purchase silver sugar tongs as shower gifts because although  not many people use sugar tongs any longer, you can pluck strawberry tops with them. So they are an ideal gift for a bride to be.

Seek information

Regardless of what you are searching for, understanding quality and cost is important. But due to an antique’s rarity, and the near-impossibility of having two identical objects, research is essential to find out if an item is priced fairly.

Resource books are ideal for researching identification markings and cost ranges, though they might not be current when an antique becomes available.  Demand can change. Although one item was worth ascertain price at the time the book was published, its demand could have decreased and consequently its price may have dropped.  So beware of that.

Together with general cost guides, for example Miller’s and Kovels, search for books and websites specific to particular types of antiques and collectibles, like jukeboxes, coins or jewelry. You may even want to talk with the collectible club people, particularly if your gift recipient is a member of this club, because they may know exactly where you can purchase hat you want and at what cost. So it’s always a good idea to go to a so called “expert” when researching an antique for a gift. In the end, it will save you a lot of time, money and grief!